Monarda fistulosa

Monarda fistulosa L.

Wild bergamot, Beebalm

Synonym(s):

Wild bergamot, known by many other common names, is a popular and showy perennial. Clusters of lavender, pink or white flowers, looking like ragged pompoms, bloom atop 2-5 ft., open-branched stems.

This showy perennial, frequently cultivated, has aromatic leaves used to make mint tea. Oil from the leaves was formerly used to treat respiratory ailments. The leaves smell minty.

Linnaeus named the genus Monarda in honor of a 16th century Spanish physician and botanist, Nicolas Bautista Monardes (1493-1588). Monardes never went to the Americas but was able to study medicinal plants in Spain because Spain controlled navigation and commerce from the New World.

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade Soil Moisture: Dry , Moist Soil pH: Alkaline (pH>7.2) , Acidic (pH<6.8) , Circumneutral (pH 6.8-7.2) CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium Drought Tolerance: Medium Heat Tolerant: yesSoil Description: Thrives in a wide range of soils, from acid to lime to rich to poor to sand to clay. Less tolerant of flooding, but can take it in the winter. Conditions Comments: Prevent mildew by providing good drainage and air circulation.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: A hardy garden standard, with brilliant blooms and pleasantly fragrant foliage, many cultivars. Though prone to mildew in soils that arent well aerated, selection Claire Grace is more mildew resistant. Use Wildlife: Birds, Hummingbirds, Butterflies Use Food: Leaves boiled for tea, used for seasoning, chewed raw or dried; flowers edible. Use Medicinal: Long ago, oil from the leaves was used to treat respiratory ailments. (Niering)
Amerindians used leaf tea for colic, flatulence, colds, fevers, stomach aches, nosebleeds, insomnia, & heart trouble. For measles used to induce sweating; pulticed leaves for headaches. (Foster & Duke)
Boiled dried plant to extract oil which was inhaled to relieve bronchial complaints, tea of plant used to reduce low fevers, to sooth sore throat, headache and colds, oil used to dry up pimples, boiled leaves applied directly to pimples. (Weiner)
Tea from flower clusters used for fevers and colds, tea made from leaves used for coughs and whooping cough, boiled leaves placed in soft cloth placed over sore eyes and pimples, tea of leaves or flowers for adominal pain and to sooth the kidneys. (Kindscher)
Infuse as a tea to relieve nausea, flatulence, menstrual pain and insomnia. Tru steam inhalation for bronchial catarrh and sore throats. (Bremness) Use Other: The fragrant leaves can be used for perfume. Conspicuous Flowers: yesFragrant Flowers: yesInteresting Foliage: yesFragrant Foliage: yesAttracts: Birds , Butterflies , Hummingbirds Nectar Source: yesDeer Resistant: High

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Native flowers for Door County, WisconsinSeptember 02, 2009We recently were required to put in a new septic system on our vacation property in Door County, WI. This left us with a clearing on our wooded lot where the septic field is now located. The installer... view the full question and answer